New Delhi: Airtel retracts extra charges for VoIP data
On Monday, Bharti Airtel announced that it would roll back the plan it announced last week to charge extra for Voice over IP data services. In its statement, it cited the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s decision to release a consultation paper on the issue. Airtel had already released VoIP data packs, with one for Rs 75 work 75 MB of VoIP data. The move drew a lot of flak from the social media and sparked discussions on net neutrality.
Jharkhand: BJP wants to merge with Marandi’s JMM
Former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi on Monday turned down an offer from the Bharatiya Janata Party to merge with his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party. The BJP-led alliance in the state swept the recently concluded assembly elections, bagging 42 of 81 seats. The JMM won eight seats. Official said Marandi would have merged had the JMM be allotted two ministerial berths. Seven berths are still vacant following the swearing of Raghubar Das as the chief minister on Sunday.
West Bengal: BJP members cross 10 lakh in state
After its membership drive in West Bengal kicked off on November 1, the Bharatiya Janata Party announced on Monday that the number of new cadres since had crossed 10 lakh. BJP leaders said that party’s President Amit Shah had set a target of one crore sign-ups by March 2015. The Trinamool Congress also announced a membership drive for 2015. According to the 2011 Census, West Bengal’s population is 9.13 crore.
Tamil Nadu: Government asks for 100 MW from Kudankulam plants
Citing its seamless management of the two Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plants, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allocate 100 MW of unassigned power from reactor II to the state itself. Since September 27, Tamil Nadu has already been receiving 100 MW of unallocated power from reactor I. Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said the state government had provided all necessary resources for the continuous operation of the reactors – often in the face of violent protests – and that the state was owed the 100 MW in return.
Maharashtra: CM takes the local train to Kalyan
In an attempt to get a first-hand impression of Mumbai’s suburban railway, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a local train on Monday evening to attend a function in Kalyan. He boarded a 6.29 pm train from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. His very first observation was, “Mumbaikars appear to have got used to travelling in overcrowded trains. One would think that commuters would rant the most about overcrowded locals. Surprisingly, this was not the case.” While senior railway authorities said they were not informed of the journey, sources from the CM’s office said precautions had been taken four hours beforehand.
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On Monday, Bharti Airtel announced that it would roll back the plan it announced last week to charge extra for Voice over IP data services. In its statement, it cited the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s decision to release a consultation paper on the issue. Airtel had already released VoIP data packs, with one for Rs 75 work 75 MB of VoIP data. The move drew a lot of flak from the social media and sparked discussions on net neutrality.
Jharkhand: BJP wants to merge with Marandi’s JMM
Former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi on Monday turned down an offer from the Bharatiya Janata Party to merge with his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party. The BJP-led alliance in the state swept the recently concluded assembly elections, bagging 42 of 81 seats. The JMM won eight seats. Official said Marandi would have merged had the JMM be allotted two ministerial berths. Seven berths are still vacant following the swearing of Raghubar Das as the chief minister on Sunday.
West Bengal: BJP members cross 10 lakh in state
After its membership drive in West Bengal kicked off on November 1, the Bharatiya Janata Party announced on Monday that the number of new cadres since had crossed 10 lakh. BJP leaders said that party’s President Amit Shah had set a target of one crore sign-ups by March 2015. The Trinamool Congress also announced a membership drive for 2015. According to the 2011 Census, West Bengal’s population is 9.13 crore.
Tamil Nadu: Government asks for 100 MW from Kudankulam plants
Citing its seamless management of the two Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plants, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allocate 100 MW of unassigned power from reactor II to the state itself. Since September 27, Tamil Nadu has already been receiving 100 MW of unallocated power from reactor I. Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said the state government had provided all necessary resources for the continuous operation of the reactors – often in the face of violent protests – and that the state was owed the 100 MW in return.
Maharashtra: CM takes the local train to Kalyan
In an attempt to get a first-hand impression of Mumbai’s suburban railway, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a local train on Monday evening to attend a function in Kalyan. He boarded a 6.29 pm train from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. His very first observation was, “Mumbaikars appear to have got used to travelling in overcrowded trains. One would think that commuters would rant the most about overcrowded locals. Surprisingly, this was not the case.” While senior railway authorities said they were not informed of the journey, sources from the CM’s office said precautions had been taken four hours beforehand.